Latvian Higher League

Latvian Higher League
Country Latvia
Confederation UEFA (Europe)
Founded 1927
Number of teams 8
Level on pyramid 1
Relegation to Latvijas 1. līga
Domestic cup(s) Latvian Cup
Latvian Supercup
International cup(s) Champions League
Europa League
Current champions Spartaks Jūrmala
(2016)
Most championships Skonto (15)
Website www.futbolavirsliga.lv
www.lff.lv
2016 Latvian Higher League

The SynotTip Latvian Higher League (Latvian: SynotTip Virslīga) is a semi-professional football league and the top tier of association football in Latvia and is organised by the Latvian Football Federation. The new season kicks off in mid-March of every year, and runs until early November. There are no games in winter because of the harsh climate. From 2005 until 2011, the league was sponsored by the telecommunications operator LMT, naming the league LMT Virslīga. In 2012 the league was reorganised in partnership with the NGO "Latvijas Futbola virslīga",[1] adopting the NGO's name. Before the current season in March 2013, the league signed a sponsorship deal with the microfinancing company SMScredit.lv and acquired its current name SMScredit.lv Virslīga.[2] In March 2016, it was announced that the Virslīga would be sponsored by SynotTip on a three-year contract.[3]

League format

From the first season back in 1991 to 2007, there were eight clubs in the Virslīga. During the course of the season each club played all the other clubs four times, twice at their home stadium and twice at that of their opponents, completing a total of 28 games.

After the 2007 season the league increased from eight to ten sides.[4] In 2008 each side played the others four times.

At the end of the season, the lowest placed team are automatically relegated into Traffic 1. liga, and the winner of the Traffic 1. liga automatically takes their place. The second lowest placed team in Virslīga and the second team of 1. liga play two matches for a place in the Virslīga the following season. The winner of Virslīga, the champion of Latvia, plays in the UEFA Champions League qualifying round. The second and third placed clubs play in the UEFA Europa League qualifying games.[5]

Clubs (2016)

Locations of the 2016 Latvian Higher League teams

Source:[6]

Club
BFC Daugavpils
Jelgava
Liepāja
Metta / LU
Riga
Rīgas FS
Spartaks Jūrmala
Ventspils

Titles by year

Riga Football League

  • 1913 SV Kaiserwald
  • 1914 Britannia FC Riga
  • 1915 Britannia FC Riga

Football Championship 1922–1926

Virsliga 1927–1944

Football Championship of Latvian SSR 1941–1990

Since independence

Season Winner Wins Remarks Runner-up
1992 Skonto FC 1 (2) Also Cup Winners RAF Jelgava
1993 Skonto FC 2 (3)   Olimpija Rīga
1994 Skonto FC 3 (4) Undefeated RAF Jelgava
1995 Skonto FC 4 (5) Undefeated & Cup Winners Dinaburg FC
1996 Skonto FC 5 (6)   Daugava Rīga
1997 Skonto FC 6 (7) Undefeated & Cup Winners Daugava Rīga
1998 Skonto FC 7 (8) Also Cup Winners FHK Liepājas Metalurgs
1999 Skonto FC 8 (9)   FHK Liepājas Metalurgs
2000 Skonto FC 9 (10) Also Cup Winners FK Ventspils
2001 Skonto FC 10 (11) Also Cup Winners FK Ventspils
2002 Skonto FC 11 (12) Also Cup Winners FK Ventspils
2003 Skonto FC 12 (13)   FHK Liepājas Metalurgs
2004 Skonto FC 13 (14)   FHK Liepājas Metalurgs
2005 FHK Liepājas Metalurgs 1 (1)   Skonto FC
2006 FK Ventspils 1 (1)   FHK Liepājas Metalurgs
2007 FK Ventspils 2 (2) Also Cup Winners SK Liepājas Metalurgs
2008 FK Ventspils 3 (3)   SK Liepājas Metalurgs
2009 SK Liepājas Metalurgs 2 (2) FK Ventspils
2010 Skonto FC 14 (15) FK Ventspils
2011 FK Ventspils 4 (4) Also Cup Winners FK Liepājas Metalurgs
2012 FC Daugava 1 (1) Skonto FC
2013 FK Ventspils 5 (5) Also Cup Winners Skonto FC
2014 FK Ventspils 6 (6) Skonto FC
2015 FK Liepāja 1 (1) Skonto FC
2016 FK Spartaks Jūrmala 1 (1) FK Jelgava
* Virslīga Championships (Total Latvian Football Championships)
Up to 1927, the winners of the First Division of the Football League were the Latvian Football Champions.
From 1945 till 1991, the winners of the First Division of the Football League were the Latvian SSR Football Champions.
dagger Tournament Cancelled due to Soviet Occupation.
double-dagger Tournament Interrupted due to Soviet Invasion.

Sources:[7] [8]

Titles by club

Club Winner Runner-up Year
Skonto Rīga 15 5 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2010
ASK Rīga 11 5 1932, 1942, 1943, 1950, 1952, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965
Sarkanais Metalurgs Liepāja 9 4 1946, 1947, 1949, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1956, 1957, 1958
RFK Rīga 8 6 1924, 1925, 1926, 1930, 1931, 1934, 1935, 1940
Olimpija Liepāja 7 8 1927, 1928, 1929, 1933, 1936, 1938, 1939
VEF Rīga 6 7 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1983
Ventspils 6 5 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2014
Elektrons Rīga 4 4 1979, 1981, 1982, 1985
Torpedo Rīga 3 2 1984, 1986, 1987
Liepājas Metalurgs 2 8 2005, 2009
RAF Jelgava 2 4 1988, 1989
Enerģija Rīga 2 2 1976, 1977
Ķīmiķis Daugavpils 2 2 1978, 1980
Kaiserwald Rīga 2 1922, 1923
ESR Rīga 2 1966, 1967
Venta Ventspils 1 2 1969
Žmiļova Komanda 1 1 1948
Starts Brocēni 1 1 1968
Jūrnieks Rīga 1 1 1972
Dinamo Rīga 1 1945
Darba Rezerves Rīga 1 1955
RER Rīga 1 1959
Gauja Valmiera 1 1990
Daugava Daugavpils 1 2012
Liepāja 1 2015
Spartaks Jūrmala 1 2016

References

  1. "About Virslīga". Biedrība Latvijas Futbola Virslīga. Futbolavirsliga.lv. Retrieved 16 June 2013. (Latvian)
  2. "SMScredit.lv – Latvian football Higher league general sponsor!". Biedrība Latvijas Futbola Virslīga. Futbolavirsliga.lv. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  3. "Virslīga ar "SynotTip" noslēdz vērienīgāko līgumu līgas vēsturē" (in Latvian). Sportacentrs.com. 10 March 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  4. Mike Dryomin (14 March 2008). "Latvia 2007". RSSSF. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  5. Hartmanis, Martins (2007-12-01). "LMT Virslīga new season calendar published". Latvian Football Federation. Retrieved 2008-02-20.
  6. "Virsliga". Soccerway. Perform. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  7. "Latvia - List of Champions". RSSSF.
  8. Jared Grellet (10 November 2011). "Ventspils and Flora claim respective titles". The Baltic Times. Retrieved 1 March 2012.

External links

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